Regaining F-1 Status.note¶
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Regaining F-1 Status
Contents
Regaining F-1 Status
You are maintaining lawful status if you are making normal progress toward completing a
course of study and complying with the immigration regulations outlined below. For more
information on the benefits and restrictions of your F-1 student status, your primary
adviser in International Student Services.
Immigration Regulations
If you fail to maintain status, you are ineligible for any of the benefits of F-1 status (for example,
employment authorization). There are two ways to regain status: apply for reinstatement or
depart the U.S. and seek a new admission to the U.S. in F-1 status.
The process to regain valid F-1 status can be challenging. We want to discuss your
options with you. We also encourage you to contact an immigration attorney so you can
make an informed decision and consider the risks with both options.
Regaining F-1 Status
Option 1: Reinstatement
Option 2: Travel and Reentry
Frequently Asked Questions
contact
Pursue a “full course of study” at the school listed on your current Form I-20. A full course of
study is 12 or more credits per quarter for undergraduate students, and 10 or more credits
per quarter for graduate students. Exceptions to the full-time requirement must be
authorized in advance by your ISS adviser.
Complete your studies before the program completion date listed in item 5 of your I-20.
Keep your I-20 valid by following proper procedures for a program extension, change in
educational level or field of study, and transfer of schools.
Remain in the U.S. for no longer than 60 days after completing your current program of
study or after completing an authorized period of practical training.
Keep your passport valid at all times unless you are exempt from the passport requirement.
Accept no employment except that which is authorized in accordance with the immigration
regulations.
Report any change of address to immigration within 10 days of the change. Local address
updates made on MyUW will be automatically sent to immigration through the SEVIS
system unless you have graduated and are authorized for OPT. To change your permanent
address, review the instructions for .permanent address updates
Option 1: Reinstatement
When requesting reinstatement, you must establish to the satisfaction of United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that you:
You must also establish that:
If USCIS approves the reinstatement request, the adjudicating officer will endorse your I-20 to
indicate that you have been reinstated and will return the I-20 to you. If USCIS does not
approve the reinstatement request, you may not appeal the decision and need to prepare to
leave the U.S. immediately.
Reinstatement Application Procedure
Allow 7-10 business days for ISS processing. ISS will create a new I-20 for your reinstatement
application. You will receive an email from ISS when your I-20 is ready for pick up.
Have not been out of status more than 5 months at the time of filing the request for
reinstatement (or demonstrate that the failure to file within the 5-month period was the result
of exceptional circumstances and that you filed for reinstatement as soon as possible under
these circumstances).
Do not have a record of repeated or willful violations of immigration regulations.
Are currently pursuing, or intending to pursue, a full course of study in the immediate future
at the school which issued the Form I-20.
Have not engaged in unauthorized employment.
Are not deportable on any ground other than overstaying or failing to maintain status.
The violation of status resulted from circumstances beyond your control. Such
circumstances might include serious injury or illness, a natural disaster, or inadvertence,
oversight, or neglect on the part of your ISS adviser, but do not include instances where a
pattern of repeated violations or a willful failure on your part resulted in the need for
reinstatement.or
The violation relates to a reduction in your course load that would have been within the
international student adviser’s authority to authorize, and that failure to approve
reinstatement would result in extreme hardship to you.
with your assigned International Student Services (ISS) adviser
to discuss your options to regain F-1 status. At the appointment the ISS adviser will review
your eligibility for F-1 reinstatement and will discuss the application process.
Schedule an appointment
Submit the online I-20 request to ISS. You will be asked to upload scans/photos of financial
documentation.
REQUEST I-20 TO REGAIN F-1 STATUS
1.
2.
Mail the following documents to the USCIS Lockbox.
Keep a copy of your entire application for your records. If you choose the paper application
option, it is recommended that you send your application by certified mail, return receipt
requested.
Mailing Address
USCIS
P.O. Box 660166
Dallas, TX 75266
Option 2: Travel and Reentry
Prepare your reinstatment application following the list of documents below. Submit your
reinstatement application to USCIS by mail. (The online application option is
no longer available).
USCIS ELIS
(write “REINSTATEMENT” at the top of the form)Form I-539
Check or money order made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” for
USCIS filing fee
Photocopies of all previously-issued I-20s
Original I-94 (the white card stapled inside your passport) or I-94 printout obtained at
https://
i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/
Photocopy of new Reinstatement I-20 signed by ISS adviser
Evidence of source and amount of financial support
A letter requesting reinstatement to F-1 student status which explains your situation and
truthfully states that failure to maintain status was due to any or all of the reasons listed
above
Supporting documentation (for example, a letter of support from a faculty adviser familiar
with the circumstances of your case)
Current transcript and transcripts from other U.S. schools previously attended
Photocopy of passport identification and visa pages; do not send your passport
Completed (optional; it signs you up for email/text message notification of
your application’s arrival at USCIS)
G-1145 Form
3.
In some cases it may be advisable to depart the U.S. and re-enter with a new I-20, rather than
applying for reinstatement. You may do this by obtaining a new I-20 from the school you are
currently attending or wish to attend, then departing the U.S., applying for a new if the
F-1 visa stamp in your passport has expired, and returning to the U.S. Note that students who
violated status are not eligible for . A re-entry to the U.S. after a
status violation is viewed by Immigration as “initial attendance” in F-1 status. As such, you are
bound by restrictions placed on new students, such as the academic year waiting period for
eligibility for practical training.
To request a new I-20 for travel and reentry:
Allow 7-10 business days for ISS processing. ISS will create a new I-20 for your reinstatement
application. You will receive an email from ISS when your I-20 is ready for pick up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the major difference between the two options?
Students who are reinstated continue in their previous F-1 status. Students who choose travel
and reentry are considered initial status students. This is most important when considering
eligibility for or . Students who reenter
using a new I-20 will be required to complete one academic year before becoming eligible to
apply for off-campus employment.
What are the costs associated with each option?
Reinstatement in the U.S: USCIS charges an I-539 .
Travel and reentry: There is the $200 , plus any expenses incurred for travel and visa
applications.
Which option is the least risky?
Each option has its risks. If your application for reinstatement is denied, you will be required to
depart the U.S. immediately. If you are denied re-entry at the border, you may be required to
return home immediately from the port of entry.
F-1 visa
automatic visa revalidation
with your assigned International Student Services (ISS) adviser
to discuss your options to regain F-1 status. At the appointment the ISS adviser will review
your situation and discuss the travel & reentry process in detail.
Schedule an appointment
Submit the online I-20 request to ISS. You will be asked to upload scans/photos of financial
documentation.
REQUEST I-20 TO REGAIN F-1 STATUS
ISS will create a new I-20 for your travel & reentry. Allow 7-10 business days for I-20
processing.
Optional Practical Training Curricular Practical Training
application fee
SEVIS fee
1.
2.
3.
May I continue to study while my application for reinstatement is
pending?
Yes, you must continue to study in order to maintain your F-1 status.
May I continue to work on-campus while my application for
reinstatement is pending?
No. Once it is determined that you have violated your student status, you must stop working
immediately.
How long will the reinstatement process take?
Reinstatement applications take approximately three to four months to process.
Can I reenter from Canada or must I return to and reenter from
my home country?
Reentry from Canada is fine; however, you must already have a valid visa to enter Canada, if
needed. The will not issue an entry visa to students with “initial
attendance” I-20s. For more information, contact your ISS adviser.
Canadian Consulate